Daily Record Reveals Heartbreaking Story as Jimmy Bell’s Legacy is Exposed
Amid the ongoing turmoil at Ibrox, the Daily Record has spotlighted the dismantling of an iconic figure in the club’s history.
Jimmy Bell, who served with unwavering loyalty as both kit man and bus driver, amassed a collection of memorabilia from legendary players such as Paul Gascoigne, Fernando Ricksen, Brian Laudrup, Ally McCoist, and Barry Ferguson.
Bell was also instrumental in guiding new signings into the traditions and culture of Ibrox and is credited with bringing a portrait of the English monarch into the home dressing room, symbolizing his deep connection to the club’s history.
Steven Gerrard appeared puzzled as he was given a tour of the club’s inner sanctum. It is well known that Bell wasn’t particularly fond of Maurice Johnston or Kevin Kyle during his time at the club.
Over the years, Bell accumulated an impressive collection of shirts, boots, pennants, flags, and scarves, with Jim McAllister from Morton joining as his assistant shortly before Bell’s passing in 2022. However, McAllister’s tenure as Head Kitman lasted less than a year.
According to the Daily Record, McAllister was another casualty of James Bisgrove (boo hiss), successfully claiming Unfair Dismissal at a tribunal that went uncontested.
Last summer, Micky Beale insisted that new signings visit Bell’s “Gloryhole,” a space filled with the club’s rich history. However, it seems that in the 15 months since, Bell’s widow has been clearing out decades of tradition from the place.
In a deeply emotional piece for the Daily Record, Scott McDermott writes:
It was once the heart of the club. A place where players, coaches, and staff would gather to share stories and memories. New signings would visit first, quickly learning what Rangers was all about. The room radiated history, prestige, and success; newcomers, whether from Aberdeen or Argentina, were absorbed into the club’s legacy. It was more than just a room—it was a symbol of the Rangers identity.
But now? If there’s anything left hanging on the walls, it’s hard to see. What was once a shrine to the club’s past is now a bare space, stripped of its artifacts and its very soul. The nostalgia that filled the air has been replaced by a sense of abandonment. This once-iconic space—the legendary kit-room at Auchenhowie, curated by Jimmy Bell over decades of dedicated service—is now just another ordinary kit-room.
Bereft of the history and tradition that once made it special, this space now stands empty. The memorabilia, once a proud part of Rangers’ heritage, now sits in a garage, removed by Jimmy’s widow, Janice, disheartened and disgusted by how the club treated her late husband’s successor.
With the club still in need of a Chairman, CEO, Director of Football Operations, and Academy Director, it seems that restoring the Kit Room to its former glory is yet another task for the 2012 “Tribute Act.” Coverage of McAllister’s Unfair Dismissal Tribunal has been minimal, with just one article in the Daily Record noting the £13,000 award.
Source: https://videocelts.com/2024/10/blogs/latest-news/daily-record-uncovers-the-tragic-tale-as-jimmy-bells-legacy-is-stripped-bare/